Container



July 13, 1943. J. REICHEL CONTAINER Filed March 19 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l J. REICHEL July 13, 1943.

CONTAINER Filed March 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H Reicgez Patented July 13, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT'QFFICE CONTAINEIt John Reichel, Wynnewood, Pa.

Application March 19, 1941, Serial No. 384,179

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a container, and has particular reference to a. container of the general type disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 332,828, filed May 1, 1940, and entitled Container.

In my aforesaid application and in my present application there is disclosed and claimed a novel container adapted for packin Processing, drying and/or distributing pharmaceutical, biological, medicinal, chemical or like substances in liquid, flake, granular, powdered or other form. In such containers an ampule-like body portion has a cap type stopper inserted into the neck portion thereof with the cap portion extending toward the upper open end of the neck portion, which cap portion, after the flame-sealing of the neck portion and the subsequent breaking thereof in a plane adjacent the lgwer end of the cap portion of the inserted stopper, can be turned down over the adjacent edge of the container to provide a capped stopper type container, said turned down cap portion overlying the sharp and rough edge resulting from the breaking of the neck portion to protect the user of the container from injury by such sharp and rough edge. Such containers are particularly useful and effective as a means for containing various pharmaceutical and like preparations intended for subcutaneous, intravenous and intramuscular injections, and they combine in a single structure all of the advantages inherent in the vial or bottle and ampule containers of the prior art but possess none of the disadvantages inherent in such containers.

In containers of the type involved in my aforesaid and present applications, it is important for successful and emcient operation that the plug portion of the cap stopper be held tightly in place within the neck of the container to prevent accidental removal of the cap stopper from the container during the operation of breaking the upper, flame-sealed portion of the neck from the remainder of the container. While the frictional contact between the inner surface of the neck portion and the plug portion of the stopper is usually sufficient to prevent withdrawal of the cap stopper during the operation of breaking the upper, flame-sealed portion of the neck from the remainder of the container, I have now determined that the efliciency of the container may be greatly enhanced by providing a positive, interlocking engagement between the plug portion of the cap stopper and the neck of the container.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a container having an inwardly-extending flange within the neck portion thereof. adapted to engag an inserted stopper to assist in retaining said stopper in'position within the neck portion of the container.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a container having an inwardly-extending flange within the neck portion thereof, and to provide a stopper having a shoulder thereon adapted to .underlie the said flange when said stopper is inserted within the neck portion of the container, engagement between said flange and said shoulder constituting an interlock to assist in retaining said stopper within the neck portion of the container.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a container comprising a body portion having a breakable neck with a cap stopper within the neck below the upper end thereof with the plug portion of said stopper frictionally engaging the inner wall of the neck and with the cap portion of thestopper extending toward the upper end of the neck, the extreme upper end of said neck being flame-sealed to close said upper end, and the neck being breakable in a plane adjacent the inner end of the cap portion of the stopper to thus expose the cap portion after the neck is broken; and to provide, further, an inwardly-extending flange within the neck portion below the plane of breakage adapted to engage a shoulder provided on the stopper below the upper end of the cap portion thereof to prevent accidental removal of the cap stopper during the operation of breaking the neck portion from the remainder of the container.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a novel cap stopper having an annular shoulder adjacent the juncture of the cap and plug portion thereof, which shoulder is adapted to engage beneath an inwardly-extending flange provided on the neck portion of a container when such stopper is inserted within said neck portion, to thereby prevent accidental removal of the cap stopper from the container.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide a container of the above referred to character that is simple in construction, cheap and easy tomanufacture, which possesses numerous features and advantages over the containers of the prior art, which is highly eflicient in the purposes for which designed.

In the accompanying drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration there is illustrated a referred form of container embodying the features of my present invention,

Figures 1, 2 and 3 illustrate three successive steps in the method of forming the container of my present invention,

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the con-- the inner surface of which correspond to the external size and shape of the frustro-conical mandrel 8. When the forming dies I and 8 have been moved to their innermost position, i. e., to the position shown in Fig. 3, the flat faces III of said dies are disposed in parallel relation to the tapered surface of the mandrel 8, i. e.,the said flat faces III function to form the outer sur- Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the container of my present invention showing the upper part of the neck portion broken from the remainder of the container,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the cap portion of the stopper turned downwardly over the upper open edge of the neck portion of the container, and Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional. view through the preferred form of stopper presented in this application.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals have been employed to designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral I designates a tubular, open-ended section of glass or other suitable material, which section is to be formed into one of the containers of my present invention. when manufacturing the container, the mid portion of the tubular section I is heated over the flame of a suitable burner 2 to render said mid portion relatively soft and moldable, the section being rotated about its longitudinal axis by movement of the fingers of the operator during the heating operation. When the mid portion of the section I has been heated sufficiently, the said section is moved axially onto a tapered mandrel 3 rigidly supported on the end of a rod 4, thi mandrel being of frustro-conical formation and having a size and taper corresponding to the desired size and taper of the internal surface of the neck portion to be formed intermediate the ends of the container. The section I now occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, in which the mid portion of the section overlies the tapered mandrel 8 and is disposed between upper and lower fornnng dies 5 and 6, respectively, and above a suitable burner 1, the flame from which functions to maintain the mid portion of the section I relatively soft and moldable. The forming dies 5 and 8 are supported at the ends of resilient arms 8 and 8, respectively, and each includes a flat face III at the inner end of which is located a projecting flange I I for a purpose to be hereinafter described. When the section I has been moved to the position shown in Fig. 2, the resilient arms 8 and 8 are moved toward each other, which movement causes the forming dies 5 and 8 to contact with the heated and moldable mid portion of the section I. The operator continually rotates the section I about its longitudinal axis as the forming dies 5 and Bare moved or pressed into contact with the mid portion of said section, it being noted that the flame from the burner I continually impinges upon the said mid portion to maintain said mid portion relatively soft and moldable. As the forming dies 5 and 8 move toward the relatively soft and moldable mid portion of the section I, the said mid portion is formed into the intermediate neck portion I2,

face of the intermediat neck portion, which outer surface is parallel to the inner surface of the neck portion and is spaced from the adjacent inner surface of said neck portion a distance corresponding to the thickness of the wall of the neck portion of the container. As the forming dies 8 and 8 are moved from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3 to form the intermediate neck portion of the container, the projecting flanges II located at the inner ends of the forming dies 8 and 8 will contact the rotating surface of the heated mid portion and will form on the outer surface of said mid portion an annular groove I8. It is to be noted that when the forming dies 8 and 8 have been moved to their innermost position, i. e., to the position shown in Fig. 3, the projecting flanges II are closer to the mandrel 8 than are the flat faces I8 of said forming dies, and hence the thickness of the container wall at the annular groove I8 is less than the thickness of the wall of the neck I2. At this stage of manufacture, the pres ence of the groove I8 on the outer surface of the neck portion of the container, in no way affects the inner surface of th neck portion, which inner surface is perfectly smooth and regular due to its contact with the smooth, tapered mandrel 8.

After the section I is formed to the shape and configuration shown in Fig. 3, the resilient arms 8 and 8 are released, whereupon the forming dies are removed from contact with the section I and assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The formed section I is then moved axially of! of the mandrel I, i. e., toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3. and is permitted to cool. An important feature of my present invention resides in my discovery of the fact that upon removal of the formed section from the mandrel 8 and the subsequent cooling thereof, the material of the section contracts or otherwise adjusts itself adJacent the annular groove I8 to provide on the inner surface of the tapered neck portion an inwardly-extending flange I4. The right hand end of the section I as viewed in Fig. 3, is then heated and manipulated in a well known manner to close said end, whereupon the partially formed ampule type container is ready for the introduction of the desired pharmaceutical, biological, medicinal. chemical or like substance.

After the contents of the container have been placed therein by introduction through the upper open end of the container, a cap stopper I5, preferably made of rubber or the like, is inserted into the neck portion of the container with the plug portion I6 of said stopper tightly engaging the inner wall of the tapered neck portion I2 to seal the container, and with the cap portion I! of the stopper extending upwardly toward the upper open end of the container. Preferably the cap stopper I5 has on the outer surface thereof adjacent the juncture of the cap and plug portions of the stopper, an annular groove providing a shoulder I8 which shoulder, when the capped stopper is inserted within the neck portion I2 of the container, snaps beneath the inwardly-extending flange II to assist in mainand 6. If for any reason the container and its contents do not pass inspection, the operator,

prior to the flame-sealing of the upper end of the container, can readily grasp the upstanding cap portion I1 of the stopper with forceps or with some other suitable instrument and can withdraw the stopper l5 from the container. This is an important feature of my present invention, as it permits the stopper, container and all or a portion of the contents to ,be salvaged. By means of the construction above described it is not necessary to flame-seal the outer end of the container immediately following the filling of the container, as the stopper forms an effective hermetic and aseptic seal for the contents of the container, and the flame-sealing operation can be deferred and subsequently performed under the most satisfactory and economical conditions.

It has been found that the portion of the container wall adjacent the annular groove I3 is weaker than the wall of the remaining portion of the container and, hence, when it is desired to administer or otherwise utilize the contents of the cap-stoppered, flame-sealed container above described, it is merely necessary to break the upper, flame-sealed portion of the container from the remainder of the container, in the manner illustrated in Fig. '7 of the accompanying drawings, the line of breakage or fracture occurring substantially in the plane of the annular groove 13 and slightly above the shoulder 18 on the outer surface of the cap stopper I5. -If desired, the outer surface of the container may be scored by means of a flle or other suitable instrument in a plane including the annular groove i3, to thereby insure that the line of breakage or fracture occurs at the proper place or location. During the breaking away or removal of the upper, flamesealed portion of the container, the cap stopper I5 is maintained against accidental removal due to the engagement between the shoulder IS on said stopper and the inwardly-extending flange l4.

If the operator desires to pour the contents from the container after the removal of the upper, flame-sealed portion from the remainder of the container in the manner above described, the cap stopper may be readily removed from its position within the tapered neck portion by exerting an upward pull on the cap portion I1. of the stopper, which upward pull is sufficient to disengage the annular shoulder is from beneath the inwardly-extending flange I4. If, on the other hand, the operator desires to utilize the container in a manner similar to the utilization of the capped vials or bottles of the prior art, i. e., if he desires to withdraw the contents or a portion thereof from the container by penetrating the cap stopper by means of a hypodermic needle is (see Fig. 8), the cap portion [1 is turned downwardly over the outer surface of the neck of the container from the position shown in Fig. 7 to the position shown in Fig. 8, it being particularly noted that the turned down portion of the cap l'l completely overlies the sharp and rough edge of the neck of the container to thus protect the operator from possible injury due to such sharp and rough edge. It is then an l l i 3 easy matter for the operator to insert the hypodermic needle I 9 through the thin puncturable diaphragm 20 at the top of the plug portion ii of the stopper and to withdraw a portion or all of the contents of the container.

It will thus be seen that a co tainer of the above described tvpepossesses all of the features and advantages of the vial or bottle type container and of the ampule type containers of the prior art, and, in addition, possesses many features and advantages not to be found in such prior art containers. The flame-sealed closure means of the present invention is most effective in hermetically and aseptically protecting and preserving the contents of the container and also serves to protect the inserted stopper l5 against contamination and deterioration. The use of the cap stopper type of closure provides an eflective and satisfactory initial closure for the container prior to the flame-sealing thereof, and provides a double seal for the contents after the flame-seal has been effected, it being noted that the cap portion H of the stopper permits the ready withdrawal of the entire stopper prior to the flamesealing operation and also subsequent to the flame-sealing and breaking of the neck portion, in the event that such complete removal of the stopper becomes necessary or desirable. The use of the cap stopper permits the container of the present invention to be utilized, after the breaking of the neck portion, as an ordinary capstoppered container from which the contents or a portion thereof may be readily withdrawn without exposure of the contents with the air. The provision of the inwardly-extending flange l 4 and the special form of cap stopper including the shoulder i8, which flange and shoulder coact to prevent accidental removal of the stopper during the operation of breaking the upper, flame-sealed portion from the remainder of the container, also constitutes an important feature of my present invention. It is to be particularly noted that the use of the cap stopper i5 in the manner above described, effectively protects the operator from injury due to the presence of the sharp and rough edge resulting from the breaking of the flamesealed portion of the container.

It is to be understood that the form of my present invention set forth herein is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various change may be made in the size, shape and arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. While I have elected to describe my present invention as applied to a glass container it is to be understood that the container need not be made of glass but may be made from tubular sections of suitabl metal, various moldable resins, or the like. It is to be understood, further, that the cap stopper l5 may be made of rubber or of any other suitable material sumciently resilient and flexible to permit the cap stopper to serve its intended purpose.

Having thus described my present invention, I

claim:

1. A sealed and stoppered container comprising a body portion; a sealed, breakable portion; a neck having an inwardly-extending flange therein, said neck extending between said body portion and said sealed, breakable portion; and a cap stopper of substantially uniform diameter positioned within said container and including a'cap portion and a plug portion, said stopper having a preformed, annular groove on the outer surface thereof adjacent the juncture between said cap and plug portions to provide a preformed annular shoulder on the outer surface of said stopper, said cap portion being disposed within the sealed, breakable portion, and said plug portion being dispo ed \within said neck with the preformed shoulder on the stopper engaged beneath the flange within said neck to assist in retaining said stopper in position. v

2. A sealed and stoppered container comprising a body portion; a sealed, breakable portion; a neck having an inwardly-extending flange therein, said neck extending between said body portion and said sealed, breakable portion, said container having an annular groove on the outer surface thereof ina plane including the inwardlyextending flange to define the line of breakage of said sealed, breakable portion from said neck; and a cap stopper of substantially uniform diameter positioned within said container and including a cap portion and a plug portion, said stopper having a preformed, annular groove on the outer surface thereof adjacent the juncture between said cap and plug portions to provide a preformed, annular shoulder on the outer surface of said stopper, said cap portion being disposed within the sealed, breakable portion and above said flange and groove, and said plug portion being disposed within said neck and beneath the flange therein with said flange disposed within the preformed groove to assist in retaining said stopper in position.

JOHN REICHEL. 

